Admission

FAQs

General Admission FAQs

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

General FAQs

List of 7 frequently asked questions.

  • Do students wear uniforms? What is the dress code? 

    Yes, Rabun Gap students wear uniforms that vary by division. Our dress code reflects professional but inclusive clothing choices for students and faculty. The Head of School also regularly announces Casual Days throughout the year. 
     
    There are two types of Rabun Gap uniforms - classroom and formal. The classroom uniform is a more casual outfit that typically includes polo, button-down, or sweaters with the school logo; and solid color pants or skorts, or jumpers for Lower School students. Rabun Gap hoodies and jackets are allowed in classroom dress. Formal dress is worn once a week and includes a tie and blazer for Upper School students, with specific formalwear pieces for Lower and Middle School students. 
     
    The full dress code is shared with families each summer for the upcoming school year as a part of the Student-Parent Handbook. We partner with Lands End to offer easy uniform purchasing. For questions about uniforms or the dress code, please contact admission@rabungap.org.

  • What are the typical school hours?

    Rabun Gap’s academic day runs from 8:45 AM to 3:20 PM.

    Upper School students participate in afternoon activities (athletics, arts, work, and service) from 4-6 PM daily.

    Middle School athletics and afterschool activities run from 4-5:30 PM.

    The Lower School offers an optional aftercare program until 6:00 PM.

  • Rabun Gap has a Presbyterian heritage. Can I attend Rabun Gap if I am not Christian?

    Yes! Rabun Gap prides itself on its diverse, global, and multicultural community. With students from 50 different countries, we welcome students and families from different religious, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

    While we are proud of our Presbyterian heritage and chapel program, neither students nor faculty are required to be Christian in order to be part of the Rabun Gap community. We expect all students and faculty to respect the Christian tradition as well as other traditions, and in order to graduate from Rabun Gap, all students are required to fulfill a religious studies course requirement. In order to fulfill this requirement, students must successfully complete three trimester-long courses: Old Testament, New Testament, and World Religions.  Rabun Gap students are also required to attend weekly chapel services. For boarding students, these services take place on Thursdays and Sundays.

  • What afterschool activities and extracurriculars are available?

    Rabun Gap has a robust afternoon program; all Upper School students are required to participate in an afterschool activity. For Middle School students, afternoon activities are optional but encouraged. We offer afternoon supervision at the Lower School for an additional fee.

    Upper School afternoon activities include: JV and Varsity Athletics (football, boys soccer, girls soccer, boys tennis, girls tennis, cross country, swimming, lacrosse, girls golf, boys golf, softball, baseball, track & field, girls basketball, boys basketball, and wrestling), Cirque, Musical, Blackbox Productions, STEAM, Environmental Stewardship Program, Outdoor Program, Breakdancing, Off-Season Athletic Conditioning, and Intramural Sports. Students can also elect to hold a campus job after school in a variety of school departments.

    Middle School afternoon activities include Middle School Athletics (boys soccer, girls soccer, co-ed tennis, cross country, swimming, lacrosse, baseball, track & field, girls basketball, boys basketball, and wrestling), Adventure & Service, STEAM, Beginner Band, Middle School Cirque, Math Team, and more.

    We also offer after-school enrichment programs that include group classes and private lessons in the arts, for an extra fee.

  • Does Rabun Gap offer an AP or IB curriculum?

    Rabun Gap provides an AP curriculum with 16 AP courses offered each year at the Upper School.

  • How many hours of homework can I expect?

    At the Lower School, homework is not assigned. Middle School students can expect one hour of homework per night. The Upper School student’s homework load ranges from two to four hours. Upper School students have a “free period” during the day that they can use to get a start on their homework. Some students use this time to go to the library, the Learning Center or to get help from a teacher.

  • What is your curriculum?

    Our college preparatory curriculum prepares students in humanities, mathematics, world languages, and science. Learn more about our curriculum in each of the divisions.

Day Students

List of 2 frequently asked questions.

  • Does Rabun Gap offer transportation for local students and how much does it cost?

    Each school year, we offer round trip bus service to the following three communities, provided at least one family requests the service. The bus fee is $1,070 for the year and $8 each way. 

    Bus Routes with possible stops:
    • Franklin - Franklin, Otto
    • Highlands - Bryson's Grocery, Highlands/Cashiers Hospital
    • Clarkesville - Downtown Clarkesville, Hollywood, Tallulah Falls
    • Clayton - Ingles, Lake Burton
    Important Considerations: 
    • Exact pick­up and drop­off locations with times will be determined by community need and will be announced in the summer.
    • Parents should express interest in this service using the online registration forms sent via the Parent Portal. 
    • Participants are billed over eight months.

  • What is the earliest I can drop off my student with an 8:45 AM start time?

    Supervision is provided for Lower and Middle School students as early as 7:30 AM.

Boarding

List of 6 frequently asked questions.

  • At what age does Rabun Gap’s boarding program begin?

    Our boarding program begins in the 7th grade. This generally corresponds to students 12-13 years of age.

  • Do you provide transportation to and from the airport?

    Yes, we provide bus transportation to and from the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport on student travel days.  The cost of the shuttle is approximately $45 each way.

  • What do students do on the weekends?

    In addition to weekly trips to the supermarket, Walmart, local restaurants, Starbucks, and the movie theater, many more trips and activities are planned for our boarding students every weekend. These activities may include trips to the Mall of Georgia, Six Flags amusement park, arcades, and a paintball course, as well as sporting or theater events in nearby Atlanta or Asheville. There are also a plethora of outdoor activities made available to students, including camping or kayaking just to name a few! In general, the costs involved in these activities are covered in the tuition. Learn more about Weekends at Rabun Gap.

    On campus, students enjoy full use of the exercise room, gym facilities, student center, and all of our athletic fields. Students can roast S’mores around the fire pit at night, play field games with their friends, or belt out their favorite song at a student center karaoke night. There is also the opportunity to explore our vibrant 1,400-­acre campus which includes a private lake, forests, fields, a putting green, hiking trails, and climbing towers. And yes, students are welcome to just sleep in, enjoy a late brunch, and have a cozy day watching television on the sofa in their dorm if they like as well!

  • How will I keep in touch with how my child is doing?

    Your child’s advisor is your first point of contact at Rabun Gap. They will have a complete understanding of all aspects of your child’s Rabun Gap experience and can facilitate outreach to other campus faculty and staff.  You will receive school correspondence through email as well as our password-protected school portal.

  • What do boarding students do during major holidays?

    The campus closes completely for the three major academic holidays:  Thanksgiving in November, Christmas in December, and Spring Break in March. These breaks range from 10 days to three weeks long. During these holidays, it is the responsibility of the students and their families to arrange off-campus plans. If they do not go home, most international students spend these holidays in the homes of their American friends from school.

    During shorter breaks such as Easter Break and Fall Break, the campus remains open and all boarding students are welcome to remain on campus.

  • How can I arrange taking the TOEFL, SAT and ACT for my college applications?

    The SAT and ACT are both offered on the Rabun Gap campus, and the Department of College Counseling will arrange for students to take the exams they require. In addition, Rabun Gap provides free transportation twice per year to the TOEFL exam either in Athens or Atlanta, once in the fall and once in the spring. Once the dates of the exams are announced, all students need to do is register for the test and sign up for the bus.

International Students

List of 8 frequently asked questions.

  • Does Rabun Gap offer ESL support?

    Yes, we offer an English Immersion curriculum in grades 7-10 at a cost of $3,000. English Immersion is different from ESL in that it mimics the mainstream curriculum and offers an opportunity to transition to mainstream courses more quickly. If necessary, intensive ESL tutoring in all subjects is available for $6,000. Students are expected to be able to participate in all classes without English Immersion support by the 11th grade.

  • Will Rabun Gap help with the visa process?

    Yes. Once an international student enrolls in Rabun Gap, the Admission Office guides families through the process of acquiring an F-1 student visa.

  • How do I obtain an I-20 from Rabun Gap?

    In order to send the I-20 we require the following:
    • Signed enrollment contract
    • Signed international agreement letter
    • Enrollment deposit
    • Copy of student passport
    • Certificate of Deposit (COD) or bank letter showing sufficient funds to cover tuition and expenses for the full year

  • What are the minimum TOEFL and SSAT/ISEE scores needed to apply?

    To be considered a competitive candidate for admission, middle school applicants should generally strive for TOEFL scores of 60 or above. Applicants for 9th and 10th grades should seek TOEFL scores of 70 or above. Competitive 11th-grade applicants should have TOEFL scores near or above 90. For the SSAT/ISEE, all applicants should strive for math scores in the 50th percentile or higher. In highly competitive markets, math scores in the 70th percentile or higher may ensure a more competitive application.

  • Do Chinese students have to interview with Vericant or Duolingo?

    No, however you may submit these interviews to us for review if you like.

  • Does Rabun Gap accept one-year and one-semester students?

    Yes, we welcome one-year students, space permitting. We occasionally accept qualified one-semester students in January. Please inquire early, as we have limited spots available for one-year and one-semester students. 

  • Does Rabun Gap offer a homestay option for international students?

    No. All Rabun Gap students must live either with a parent/family member or board in our dormitories.

  • Does Rabun Gap offer financial aid to international families?

    Yes. Rabun Gap is unique among most elite boarding schools in that we offer need-based financial aid to all of our families, both domestic and international. Learn more about our financial aid opportunities for international families.

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School

339 Nacoochee Drive, Rabun Gap, Georgia 30568
706-746-7467 | 800-543-7467
rabungap@rabungap.org
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is a private, coeducational day and boarding school for grades Pre-K through 12. Centrally located between Atlanta, GA, Greenville, SC, and Asheville, NC, we prepare young people for college, career, and a lifetime of leadership and service.